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Thermally activated switching of perpendicular magnet by spin-orbit spin torque

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866186· OSTI ID:22283102
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-701 (Korea, Republic of)
  2. Spin Convergence Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791 (Korea, Republic of)

We theoretically investigate the threshold current for thermally activated switching of a perpendicular magnet by spin-orbit spin torque. Based on the Fokker-Planck equation, we obtain an analytic expression of the switching current, in agreement with numerical result. We find that thermal energy barrier exhibits a quasi-linear dependence on the current, resulting in an almost linear dependence of switching current on the log-scaled current pulse-width even below 10 ns. This is in stark contrast to standard spin torque switching, where thermal energy barrier has a quadratic dependence on the current and the switching current rapidly increases at short pulses. Our results will serve as a guideline to design and interpret switching experiments based on spin-orbit spin torque.

OSTI ID:
22283102
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 104; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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